Apparatus for treating yarn



April 4,'l939. v HVLANG 2,153,046

APPARATUSYFOR TREATING YARN Filed May 5, 1937 -3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HOMER V L/ma April 4, 1939. v. LANG 2453,0 16

APPARATUS FOR TREATING YARN Filed May 5, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 55" ;Z\@ ,55 5 e0 z39 46 i 5? TFK R April 4, 1939. H. v. LANG APPARATUS FOR TREATING YARN Filed May 3, 1937 5 SheetsSheet 3 Home: V. Lama Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for conditioning textile fibres such as packages of yarn in the form of bobbins, cops and the like. In the textile art, thread on the bobbin is treated with a solution, with certain ingredients therein, in order to set the twist in the thread before it is used for other purposes. In machines heretofore used for moistening or conditioning yarn it has been necessary to employ machinery which occupied considerable floor space so that all portions of the packages would be subjected to this treating solution. Other machines have been provided which did not occupy a great deal of floor space but yet the means for turning the packages while being subjected to the treating solution entailed mechanism which has not proven to be efficient and practical.

It is therefore, an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which has means for turning the packages while the same are being subjected to a spray of the treating solution so that all portions thereof may be equally treated. This turning means comprises a pair of beveled baffies or guards which are oppositely disposed above a conveyor belt and in the path of travel of the packages. As the conveyor passes beneath these guards or baflles the packages contact these guards and are caused to creep laterally of the conveyor simultaneously as the treating solution is being sprayed thereon. It is evident that this lateral creeping motion of the packages, first from one side of the conveyor and then to the other, will cause the bobbins thereon to be rotated so as to expose all partions of their surfaces to the downwardly projected treating solution.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus of a class described which has a conveyor belt formed substantially of fiat slats with the upper surfaces thereof occupying the 40 same plane. The edges of each of the slats have a slight rim portion integral therewith which forms a dished portion in the central portion' thereof for holding some of the treating solution so that the lower side of the package as it is 45 turned thereon will absorb the solution in this dished portion. At the same time the upper portion of the package is absorbing the downwardly directed spray. In other words, the lower side of the package is absorbing the liquid which is sprayed onto the slats while the upper portion of the package is absorbing the spray which is directed downwardly from the nozzles. The packages are turned by the side guards, which creep the packages from one side of the conveyor to the 55 other.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an apparatus for treating yarn comprising a conveyor upon which the bobbins are placed for treatment with means for rotating the conveyor beneath a plurality of thin sheet sprays which are 5 directed downwardly upon the packages from spaced nozzles. These nozzles are of a peculiar design which spray the liquid therefrom in a sheet formation so that at the point where the liquid strikes the top of the conveyor the longest side 10 of the sheet will be disposed at right angles to the path of travel of the conveyor. By providing this nozzle it is evident that all of the packages whichare disposed on the conveyor will be treated with an equal amount of solution. In the conventional nozzles the cross sectional area of the spray at the point of contact with the conveyor is circular in shape; consequently, when the packages pass beneath this spray those packages which traverse the central portion of this circular 20 spray will be subjected to more liquid than those which traverse the outer edge portions of the spray. 'I have arranged a plurality of my inproved nozzles in alinement directly above the conveyor belt so that as many of the same may be used as desired to vary the quantity of solution which is sprayed upon the packages as they pass beneath the spray nozzles.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear in the description hereinafter following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of the invention showing portions of the liquid container broken away;

Figure 2 is an elevation looking at the opposite side of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the invention;

Figure 4 is an elevation looking at the lefthand end of Figures 1 and 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view, showing certain portions thereof in elevation and taken through a portion of the spray head shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken along the line 1-1 in Figure 6 showing a detail of my improved nozzle;

Figure 8 is a sectional view through the bypass check valve shown in the lower left-hand portion of Figure 5 which works in connection with the pump mechanism;

Figure 9 is an inverted isometric view of a portion of a slightly modified form of conveyor belt;

Figure 10 is an isometric view showing the top portion of one of the slats used in Figure 9.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral l9 denotes the back end frame support which has resting on the upper portion thereof horizontally disposed angle members II and i2, the front end of said angle members being secured to the upper portion of inclined angle supports !3 and I4 respectively. Secured to the inclined members I3 and I4 and near the lowermost portion thereof are angle struts 15 which project rearwardly of the machine and are secured to the lowermost portion of 7 support It). Also secured tothe lowermost portion of inclined members l3 and I4 are shoes l6, said shoes having solts l8 therein into which bearings 19 are adapted to slide. These bearings house the ends of shaft 20 upon which sprockets 2| are fixedly secured. The positions of bearings l9 are adjusted by means of set screws 22 which are threadably secured in outstanding lugs 22a in the upper end of brackets 16 with the lower ends of said screws contacting the upper side of the bearings l9.

Suitable sprocket chains 24 are adapted to be mounted upon the sprockets 2| and 2B, and upon these sprocket chains cross bars 25 and 25a. are secured for supporting bobbins 26 and conveying them to the position where they are to be treated. The conveyor is broadly indicated by reference character 21. The cross pieces 25a are higher than the pieces 25 so that a predetermined amount ofpackages will be collected and conveyed upwardly. The sprockets 28 are fixedly secured on cross shaft 29, said shaft having its ends rotatably mounted in the inclined members l3 and I4. These inclined members l3 and 14 are spaced apart from each other by means of struts 39.

In order to provide means for holding a supply of'bobbins or packages 26, a suitable hopper 3! has been mounted upon the top of inclined members l3 and H! with its sides surrounding the top side of the conveyor. When the bobbins are placed in the hopper 3| as shown in Figure 5, the high cross pieces 25a will collect a portion thereof and convey them towards the top of the conveyor where they will be delivered-to a horizontally disposed conveyor 33.

This conveyor comprises a plurality of horizontally disposed rods 34 which are secured between sprocket chains 35. These chains, in turn, are rotatably mounted upon sprockets 31 and 38 which are fixedly secured upon shafts 39 and 40 respectively. The ends of the shafts 39 and 49 are rotatably mounted in suitable bearings secured to the horizontal angle members I l and [2,

The sides of the conveyor 33 are enclosed by side walls and 46 mounted upon the angle members II and I2 respectively. These sides have beveled baffles 41 and 48 secured thereto with the lower end of the baffles extending over the top of the conveyor belt 33. When the inclined conveyor 21 delivers the packages to the horizontal conveyor 33 as shown in Figure 3, the movement of conveyor 33 will cause the bobbins to first contact the bafiie 48. Upon further movement of the conveyor the bobbins will be caused to creep and roll towards the observer in Figure 3 at the same time the spray will be projected downwardly thereon from the nozzles. The baffle 41, which is secured on the opposed side of the conveyor, will then be contacted by the bobbins on this side of the conveyor thereby causing the whole batch to creep and roll away from the observer in Figure 3. It will be noted that the baffles 4'! and 48 are placed in a staggered relation to each other so that all of the bobbins will be allowed to creep and roll transversely of the conveyor until the center line of the spray head has been reached and then the other bafile 41 will move these same bobbins transversely in the opposite direction until they have passed out from beneath the spray. This creeping or shuffling of the bobbins causes all portions thereof to be turned and exposed to the spray.

The conveyor belt 33 is held in taut position by means of the bearings 50 whichare secured to the outside of angle members II and I2. The ends of the shaft 49 are rotatably mounted in blocks 5! which blocks are slidably mounted in slots 5lla.in these bearings. Set screws 52 normally contact these blocks to hold the shaft 49 in the desired position so that the belt will remain taut.

In order to provide means for driving the conveyor belts 2! and 33, a suitable motor 55 has been mounted upon bracket 56 which extends out from the framework of the apparatus. This motor has a motor shaft 51 and a pulley 58 upon which a. belt 59 is mounted. This belt is also mounted upon a larger pulley 5|! which is secured to the end of a shaft 6!. The shaft 6| is rotatably mounted in inclined angle members i3 and I4 and has secured on the other end thereof a pinion 62 which meshes with a larger gear 63, said gear 63 being fixedly secured on shaft 29. Upon rotation of the motor shaft 51, counterclockwise motion is imparted to the shaft 29 through the members just described, to cause the conveyor belt 21 to deliver predetermined quantitles of bobbins 25 to the conveyor 33.

The shaft 29 also has a sprocket 64 secured thereon upon which is mounted a sprocket chain 65. This chain is also mounted upon a second sprocket 65 which is fixedly mounted upon the shaft 39. The counter-clockwise motion of shaft 29 will therefore be imparted to the shaft 39 which in turn will cause the conveyor belt 33 to transport the bobbins toward the rear of the machine.

Secured between the upper sidewall portions 46 and 45 is a pair of rods 19 upon which is secured a bracket II which supports a T-shaped pipe fitting 12, into which liquid is delivered from hose 13. Leading from opposed ends of member 12 are suitable short. pipes 15 which have the other ends thereof connected to through valves 16. (Figures 5 and 6.) Nozzles 11 are connected to the lower portion of the valves 16 and these nozzles have an orifice 18 in the lower portion thereof through which the spray is forced. (Figure '7.) It will be noted that the lower portion of the nozzles have an elongated groove 19 which is diametrically disposed relative to the orifice 18. Also, on the inside of the nozzle are diametrically disposed grooves 80 which intersect the upper portion of the orifice. The liquid moves downwardly through the orifice l8 and due to the grooves 19 and 80 the spray is caused to assume substantially a rectangular shape at the conveyor thereby maintaining an even width of spray across the conveyor. This will insure that all portions of the conveyor as it passes beneath this spray will be subjected to an equal amount of treating solution. As heretofore stated, if the spray were circular in shape at the point where it contacted the conveyor then the portions of the conveyor which pass beneath the central portion of this circular area will be subjected to more treating solution than those portions which pass through the outer edges thereof.

Each of the valves I6 has leading therefrom another pipe which is connected to a spray head 86, said head being identical in all respects to the spray head 'I'I recently described. All of the spray heads such as 11 and 86 are placed in alinement with each other substantially over the center line of the conveyor so that variable quantities of liquid may be delivered to the bobbins on the conveyor. If desired, by means of the wheels 8'! of the valves I6 the ports 98 which lead to the nozzles 11 may be closed and only the outer spray heads 89 used.

The T-fitting I2 has a gauge 99 secured thereto which registers the amount of pressure set up in spray heads and the delivery hose 13. This delivery hose has its lower end connected to the outlet pipe 9| of pump 92, said pump being driven by the motor shaft 51 simultaneously with the driving of the conveyors. The pump has an inlet pipe 93 leading thereto, to which is secured a hose 94. This hose leads to the lower portion of container in which the treating solution is placed. When the motor is in operation the pump draws the solution from the container 95 through the pump 92, hose I3, and forces it out through the spray heads I1 and 89 onto the bobbins 26 which are disposed upon the conveyor 33. If for any reason, it is desired to use only the outer spray heads 86 then the ports 88 are closed.

Due to the closing of the ports 88, but at the same time maintaining the same speed of the motor and pumps, a pressure will naturally be built up in the hose 13. In order to neutralize this excess pressure and prevent more solution from passing through the nozzles which are then in use, a suitable by-pass pipe 91 has been provided which has one end thereof connected to the outlet pipe 9| and its other end connected to the inlet pipe 93. Disposed in this by-pass is a spring check valve 98 which has a ball 99 therein normally closing a port I99. A spring I9I normally presses the ball to a closed position, (Figure 8) but due to the adjustment of the pressure on spring I9I liquid will be allowed to flow through the port I99 and into the intake side of the pipe line when an excessive pressure is built up in the hose I3.

The point at which liquid will be caused to flow through the port I99, is varied by means of cap 98a which is threadably secured on the end of the check valve casing 98 to vary the amount of pressure exerted upon the spring I 9| and ball 99.

The eXcess liquid which is sprayed upon the bobbins and the conveyor is caught by a suitable inclined pan I93 which is disposed directly beneath the conveyor belt 33. This pan has an outlet I94 in the side portion thereof at a point where the excess liquid will be delivered to the opening I95 in the top of container 95. This opening has a strainer I96 disposed therein for removing any objectionable matter from the liquid. Figures 9 and 10 show a slightly modified form of conveyor belt which may be used to replace conveyor 33. This conveyor comprises a plurality of slats I98 which have raised ribs I98a on the top surface thereof thereby forming a dished channel I98b for holding a limited supply of the treating fluid from the nozzles. The packages of yarn which rest upon these slats will absorb the treating fluid in these channels. These slats are secured to suitable links I99 of a sprocket chain in the manner shown in Figure 9.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for applying a treating solution to packages of yarn comprising a horizontally disposed conveyor, a spraying nozzle disposed above the conveyor for directing a treating fluid onto the conveyor and the packages thereon, a horizontally inclined baflle disposed above the conveyor and in close proximity thereto and laterally of the spraying nozzle to move the packages laterally of the conveyor when the conveyor moves the packages in contact with the baille, as they are passing beneath the spraying nozzle.

2. Apparatus for applying a treating solution to packages of yarn comprising a horizantally disposed conveyor, a spraying nozzle disposed above the conveyor for directing a treating fluid onto the conveyor and the packages thereon, a horizontally inclined baffle disposed above the conveyor and in close proximity thereto to move the packages laterally of the conveyor and laterally of the spray from the spraying nozzle when the conveyor moves the packages in contact with the bailie, and an upwardly inclined trough disposed at one end of said conveyor and having a second conveyor for depositng packages of yarn onto the first conveyor.

3. Apparatus for applying a treating solution to packages of yarn comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyor, a plurality of nozzles disposed above the conveyor in a vertical plane longitudinally bisecting the conveyor, and constructed to project fan-shaped sprays transversely of the line of travel of the conveyor, an. angularly disposed baffle disposed on one side of the conveyor for moving and rolling the packages laterally of the conveyor and longitudinally of the fan-shaped sprays as the conveyor pushes the packages against the bafil-e and a second baiile disposed on the other side of the conveyor for pushing the packages in the opposite direction on the conveyor when the conveyor pushes the. packages against said second bafile.

4. Apparatus for applying a treating solution to packages or yarn comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyor, sidewalls disposed on each side of the conveyor, a plurality of nozzles disposed above the conveyor for projecting fanshaped sprays of treating solution onto the packages on the conveyor, an inclined trough having its upper end disposed near the intake end of the conveyor, a second conveyor disposed in said inclined trough, said second conveyor having intermittently disposed projections for engaging packages piled in the trough and delivering a predetermined quantity of the packages to the first conveyor and a bafiie secured to one of the side walls associated with the first conveyor adjacent said nozzles and projecting in an inclined angle over a portion of the first conveyor to move the packages laterally of the conveyor and longitudinally of said sprays as the conveyor moves the packages relative to said sidewalls.

5. Apparatus for applying a treating solution to packages of yarn comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyor, sidewalls disposed on each side of the conveyor, a plurality of nozzles disposed above the conveyor i'or projecting sheet-like sprays of treating solution onto the packages on the conveyor, an inclined trough having its upper end disposed near the intake end of the conveyor, a second conveyor disposed in said inclined trough, said second conveyor having intermittently disposed projections for engaging packages piled in the trough and delivering a predetermined quantity of the packages to the first conveyor, a baffle secured to one of the side walls associated with the first conveyor and projecting in an inclined angle over a portion of the firstt conveyor to movethe packages laterally of the conveyor and longitudinally of the sheet-likesprays as the conveyor moves the packages relative to said sidewalls, and a second baffle secured to the other sidewall for moving the packages laterally of the conveyor after they have passed the first baflie in a direction opposed to the movement imparted to the packages by the first baffle.

6. Apparatus for applying a treating. solution to packages of yarn comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyor, side walls disposed on each side of the conveyor, a plurality of nozzles disposed above the conveyor for projecting sprays of treating solution onto the packages on the conveyor, an inclined trough having its upper end disposed near the intake end of the conveyor, a second conveyor disposed in said inclined trough, said second conveyor having intermittently disposed projections for engaging packages piled in the trough and delivering a predetermined quantity of the packages to the first conveyor, 9. baffle secured to one of the side walls associated with the first conveyor and projecting in an inclined angle over a portion of the first conveyor to move the packages laterally of the conveyor while the packages are subjected to said sprays and as the conveyor moves the packages relative to said sidewalls, the first conveyor having a plurality of transversely disposed slats for supporting the packages, and each slat having a concave upper side for retaining some of the sprayed treating solution to be absorbed by the yarn on the packages which are resting in alinement with the slats.

'7. Apparatus for applying a treating solution to packages of yarn comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyor,- sidewalls disposed on each side of the conveyor, a plurality of nozzles disposed above the conveyor for projecting transversely disposed sheets of spray of treating solution onto the packages on the conveyor, a bafile secured to one of the sidewalls associated with the conveyor and projecting in an inclined angle over a portion of the conveyor to move the packages laterally of the conveyor and longitudinally of the sheets of spray as the conveyor moves the packages relative to said sidewalls, the conveyor having a plurality of transversely disposed slats for supporting the packages, and each slat having a concave upper side for retaining some of the sprayed treating solution to be absorbed by the yarn on the packages which are resting in alinement with the slats.

8. Apparatus for applying a treating solution to packages of yarn comprising a horizontally disposed endless conveyor, sidewalls disposed on each side of the conveyor, a plurality of nozzles disposed above the conveyor for projecting, a plurality of sheet-like sprays of treating solution onto the packages on the conveyor, the sheets of spray extending laterally of the conveyor, a bafiie secured to one of the side walls associated with first conveyor and projecting in an inclined angle over a portion of the conveyor to move the packages laterally of the conveyor as the conveyor moves the packages relative to said sidewalls, and a second bafile secured to the other sidewall for moving the packages laterally of the conveyor after they have passed the first baffle in a direction opposed to the movement imparted to the packages by the first baffle, the conveyor having a plurality of transversely disposed slats for supporting the packages, and each slat having a concave upper side for retaining some of the sprayed treating solution to be absorbed by the yarn on the packages which are resting in alinement with the slats.

HOMER V. LANG. 

